Ghosts of the Past

The knock that came at Maggie's door was not Andreas habitual cheerful rap. This was slower and more tentative, but still firm. Whatever change he was going through Andreas was not completely uncertain. With a smile Maggie opened the door and regarded him. "Please come in." She invited.

Andreas smiled and carefully took her hand, genteelly saluting the back of it with a kiss. "I did not see you at court." He observed.

Maggie shook her head. "No, I didn't feel quite up to it this evening." She smiled, no trace of accusation in her voice. "I behaved quite lazily, and enjoyed a bath and quiet dinner." She tilted her head, red curls tumbling over the shoulder of her emerald gown. "Besides, Court isn't nearly as enjoyable when I am not on your arm. And I did not wish to make you uncomfortable."

Andreas shook his head. "I would have been grateful for a friendly face." He admitted. "Court is a little cold at the moment." He allowed her to lead him to a table by the fire where a tea tray holding simple refreshments awaited them. "The reasons for which I am sure you are able to guess."

Maggie nodded. "I can imagine." She said quietly. "I am sorry Andreas." Her beautiful face was regretful and somber.

Andreas looked at her and bowed his head. After a moment he looked up his eyes glittering darkly. "Was there any other deception Maggie?" The prince asked quietly. "You said you shared everything of yourself with me, but for your profession. Did you resent that? Did you resent sharing your bed with me?" His face was troubled and it was obvious that this was difficult for him to ask. "Was it an act? Part of your position to pretend to enjoy me, as well as protect me?"

Maggie stared at him for a moment, not truly comprehending what he was asking her, then as enlightenment dawned, her astonishment was obvious on her face. "Oh Andreas…" She shook her head and a white hand covered his gently. "Never." She told him quietly. "Let me explain how I came to be here." Andreas looked at her and made no move to clasp her hand but neither did he pull his own away.

Maggie squeezed his hand gently. "I originally was sent by Raden to become part of your brother's cadre, his Echoes." She began. "I was to take my place at court and do what the others did, listen." She smiled. "Your brother told me that should I be approached by a member of the court or your family that I was to do as I wished, he would not constrain me to become close to anyone in the pursuit of information. When I caught your eye, I went to him and explained what I thought might happen." Andreas' hand tensed under hers and she shook her head. "Just listen my friend." She whispered. "I was concerned that I might have to discourage you, and I didn't want to do that. From my first day at Court I was attracted to you. To my surprise, Sebastian was relieved and pleased. He said that if I was desirous of the position, and if you approached me, I was to do as I wished."

A rather wicked smile curved her lush mouth and Maggie's eyes twinkled at Andreas. "What I wished was to drag you into an alcove and kiss you until you decided to pull up my skirts and pin me to the wall in spite of your excellent manners, but that would hardly have been appropriate behavior for a court lady." Andreas smiled in spite of himself. "Sebastian told me that he had worried for sometime over where you were spending your nights. He said he certainly didn't begrudge you a love life but he was driven to distraction trying to protect you. He worried one of your lovers would thrust a knife through your ribs while you slept."

Andreas looked at her in surprise and she nodded. "Yes. Even then, he was worried about that. Not just when Briar's family started the Blood Feud." She took a deep breath. "So he asked that if I became your mistress, or lover as he called me, that I would take on the task of protecting you at night. He knew that my affection for you would make me an effective protector. That I would die before allowing an enemy to harm you. And I have done my job well."

Andreas smiled tentatively. "Then you didn't mind me?"

"Mind you?" Maggie rolled her eyes. "Andreas, I have on more than one occasion thanked your brother for allowing me to take this position. And not because you bought me a diamond for my birthing day." Her fingers stroked his hand and she smiled. "I meant what I said about your prowess earlier. I so enjoy sharing my bed and my body with you my dear friend. I've become quite spoiled."

"What else does Sebastian require of you Maggie?" The prince asked softly, his eyes glittering again. "What are the rest of your duties?"

Maggie considered for a moment. "Now and then, I'll be sent word of a particularly manipulative ambassador or courtier, Sebastian will ask that I keep an eye on them, and put a spoke in their wheel if I can. Or like with Lord John, try to prevent you from being taken by surprise." She tilted her head thoughtfully. "And of course I listen at Court, for rumors and such, but that's it. My chief concern is protecting you."

"And when you and I talk?" Andreas asked softly, not wanting to insult her again, when their friendship was mending, but at the same time wanting to know the truth. "Are you required to report that to Sebastian as well?" He tried to ask in such a way that would place no blame upon her if her answer was affirmative.

"You would believe that of your brother?" Maggie asked softly. "Andreas you truly have been blinded by anger." His eyes flashed and she shook her head. "Remember when you caught Sebastian in here? Or rather he caught you eavesdropping?" Andreas nodded, remembering. "Even then, desperately worried for you as he was, he only asked that I inform him if in my opinion you were growing even more despondent. Your brother has never asked any of the Echoes who guard your family to repeat private conversations. Not me, not Liselle, or Jenny, or Faith nor Delia or Karse, or Darew. He feels very keenly the weight of how intrusive such spying is. He doesn't wish to cross that line, that terrible invasion of privacy."

Andreas regarded her in astonishment. "How does he expect to become an effective spymaster then?" He asked.

Maggie chuckled dryly. "Have no fear on that score my friend." She shook her head. "He will manage. If one of us is sent outside of the royal family, we have orders that all information is to be reported. The morals of the situation are difficult to make sense of, except to another assassin. All I know is that we are only men and women, with little magic at our disposal. We cannot hide in a room and remain there for months listening."

"Then how does he know so much about me?" Andreas wondered. "If he doesn't hear from you? Or Karse?"

Maggie lifted her hand to touch his cheek gently. "Andreas, he is your brother. He knows you. He watches you himself, pays attention to what you do. He doesn't need me to repeat back the intimate conversations we have. He has never once asked me what you and I talk about. For that matter, he hasn't asked what other courtiers have, that I try to influence you towards this policy or that favor. All he asks is that I guard your back at night."

Andreas bowed his head, his hand resting gently over hers and then pulling it forward to kiss her knuckles. "I perhaps owe my brother an apology." He said in a chastened voice.

Maggie said softly. "Perhaps." She smiled. "Would you like tea?" She gestured to the teapot and the plate of tiny snacks.

"Yes." Andreas returned her smile. "Thank you."

Briar sheathed her long sword and stretched wearily. It felt odd to her, leaving her weapons here, or in Sebastian's rooms, but she didn't quite trust herself to wear her blades, not as upset as she was.

Her brother grinned at her and she rolled her eyes. Dragon had just come from his appointment with Sebastian and he at least was quite pleased with how the younger prince was coming along. Nightly she was privileged to hear Sebastian's opinion of his own progress. To say her prince was displeased was an understatement.

"Will you be meeting Lorelei and Asrai later?" Dragon inquired as he began running through his cooling kata.

"Hmm," Briar made an affirmative sound in her throat. "Though its more likely to be just Lorelei. Asrai hasn't shown up this past week."

"Unlike her." Dragon observed.

Briar nodded with a frown. "Very."

Andreas saw Briar coming towards him from the more public part of the palace. He guessed correctly that she was entering the family wing in order to visit Sebastian and plan more of the wedding. In the evening light she reminded him of his mother and brother in her movements, her coloring made the shadows seem to cling to her hair.

In a pale gown of fluttering fabric, with her long black hair falling around her, she seemed like an apparition, but there was nothing ghostly about the anger that sparked her dark eyes as she saw him.

Andreas had seen his brother's betrothed dueling and had even sparred with her himself. But he still was unprepared for the speed and force of her blow as she struck him open-handed across his cheek. With a blink and a hand rising to fend off any further blows he realized she was speaking in a low hiss of fury.

"I've been leaving my blades in my rooms, because I could not trust myself to not try and kill you if I saw you." She hissed. "You are just as bad as Serek, almost worse."

Andreas felt a deep stunned shock of pain in his chest as he absorbed those rage filled words and realized that part of her tone's intensity was from a terrible grief and pain, more than her anger even. He opened his mouth and closed it again, not even sure of what to say, how to protest that he was not the monster she compared him to.

"I never trusted Serek, but I trusted you Andreas, in spite of the superficial resemblance you have to him." She kept her voice low trying to control the pain that welled up inside her. "Because you were kind and gentle and ever courteous to me, and you never looked at me like he did; as if I was a whore." Andreas nearly winced at her use of the word, without his anger fueling him the term was base and harsh and cruel. "And then…" Her voice nearly broke and she bowed her head for a moment.

When she regarded him again her eyes were nearly black and her voice was thick with pain. "How could you Andreas? How could you hurt him like that?" Confusion colored her words. "How could you, when he loves you so much? When all he wants is to keep his brother safe from harm. He'd stand guard over you himself if you'd allow it. He'd give anything for your happiness."

Andreas was sure she'd struck him again, the weight of her voice and eyes hit him like a blow, making breathing difficult and his throat tighten with constricting emotions.

"He wants so badly for you to…to be happy." She choked out. "He loves me, I know it, but he won't kiss me passionately if you might see. When I asked once he said…" She took a deep breath that was almost a sob and then managed to control her breathing again, her bard's talents aiding her. "He told me that you loved someone, and that she loved you, and you were parted. That was all he would tell me, and he has never kept anything from me. He said that for you to see us embracing would give you pain." She looked at him as the young Prince turned sideways partially, as if unable to face her face-to-face, tears apparent in his own eyes. Briar shook her head. "I know he'd do almost anything rather than cause you pain Andreas. And then when you…" she shook her head again. "How could you do that to him? How could you hurt him like that? I don't understand it."

The bard looked down at her hands, which she'd clenched into fists and slowly relaxed them. "He does his best to act so self sufficient." She murmured looking at her engagement ring. "But he loves his family so much. For you to act so…when all he wanted was to guard you…you hurt him terribly." She looked at the older prince and her gaze hardened again. "His injuries will be healed in time for our wedding, barely. If you must do violence to someone should you become angry again, I will show you the way to Serendal. My uncles are accustomed to dealing with the tantrums of a selfish child. They would be happy to help you expend your anger." She moved past him swiftly and continued on to Sebastian's suite leaving behind a stunned Andreas, tears falling freely now from his eyes.

Briar opened Sebastian's door after knocking politely pausing after she closed it to wipe the tears she'd shed from her eyes and cheeks. Instinctively she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

When she entered, she saw the room as usual lately was cloaked in shadows. Only a bit of crack in the curtains offered any sunlight a chance to peek through. In a far corner, Sebastian sat at a desk, his back almost to her. After his initial outburst at Andreas' attack, Sebastian seemed to have slipped into a bit of a depression. Briar frowned in concern, her betrothed hadn't seemed to hear her enter, engrossed in studying something in his hands.

"Sebastian?" She called his name quietly. "My love, are you all right? You rarely ignore me when I come in." Her voice was ironic, normally he was on his feet and greeting her with a passionate kiss.

Sebastian turned and in his hands was a green crystal. He looked surprised at seeing her and quickly apologized. "My love," He said, rising only after placing the green crystal, shaped like an icicle, into a glass case. "I apologize," He smiled cheerfully as he moved to meet her and kissed her warmly. But Briar could tell that her Prince of Shadows had been crying.

The bard's hand rose to touch his cheek and she tried to smile. "You're slipping my dear." She murmured. "And I know you too well. Something is not right with you." Her hand lingered on his cheek, lovingly stroking his face. "Is there any way I can help you?"

Sebastian smiled wanly. "I'm sorry. Of late my mind has wandered to what if...a dangerous situation but one that must be contemplated and prepared for. My dear, you can help, but first understand what I'm about to tell you is something that not even my parents know about or anyone else in my family. I still have some secrets that I keep to myself but events of late have taught me that this might not be the wisest decision I ever made."

Briar shook her head. "Do not be sorry love, you have not neglected me." She regarded him thoughtfully. "If you have secrets even from your parents, then you are truly bearing many difficult burdens, not simply your future post. If you do not wish to tell me, you need not. I know there are things it is not safe for me to know of."

"No, I think you must know. It may be horribly unfair, but someone must and I trust you to be able to carry the weight and mature enough to not reveal what I have told you." He paused, his senses sharpening again as he spoke and pulled himself out of his reflections. "You have been crying," He observed, reaching out to touch her cheek, his voice concerned.

"I will be your wife, my shadow prince." She smiled at the thought. "Who better to help you bear the weight of secrets?" The bard rolled her eyes. "I lost a bit of my temper a little while ago." She said softly in answer to his observation. Instinctively she rubbed her cheek against his hand, his touch was so comforting.

"With Andreas?" Sebastian inquired hesitantly, looking deep into her eyes. "May I ask what transpired?"

Briar nodded her confirmation. "I didn't kill him!" She said in a mock bright tone smiling determinedly. "I left my blades in the practice room to be certain I wouldn't." She sighed. "I gave him a piece of my mind, basically, though sometimes I'm not sure I can afford to give any of it away." Her voice was sad but resigned.

Sebastian stroked her face, "Come, let me explain to you and perhaps you'll understand more about my brother." He reached for her hands to guide her back into the chair and sat down pulling her onto his lap and smiling up at her. "Beautiful isn't it?" He said motioning to the Crystal.

Briar smiled and put her arm around his neck looking from him to the crystal. "Yes, very." Her voice was troubled, her thoughts still partially on the hateful things she had said to his brother.

"Then let me give you some family history," Sebastian began... "When he was younger, Andreas was sent to the Western Heart city of New Beregost to act as Squire to my Uncle Drakkar. It was thought that the drop in status from Prince to Squire might make Andreas less tentative and help him build his leadership and decision making abilities if he learned to trust his instincts as a squire first. Plus, my Uncle was thought to be a good man to learn under."

"While there he did grow, in many ways. Andreas became entangled with Drakkars daughter Katrina." Sebastian sighed and stared at the crystal.

Briar said softly. "The one he loved, and couldn't be with. The reason he can't see you and I embrace?" Her voice was tentative.

Sebastian nodded. "They were in love, but it was during that time that New Beregost and other cities along the Sword Coast all the way down to the South were attacked. In those battles and the ones that followed at sea my Uncle Drakkar was lost. For whatever reasons, Katrina had an obligation to fulfill that meant she could not be with Andreas as they desired, hoped and planned. They parted, though not without a great deal of pain on their part. He returned and you see the man before you now." Sebastian closed his eyes for a moment trying to imagine his brother's pain and failing.

"I'm sorry." Briar said quietly. "It must be very difficult to see him in pain and not be able to offer comfort."

Sebastian nodded again. "But there is more my precious Rose. Shortly after they parted, I was approached by one of my deceased Uncle's agents. He gave me this Crystal and gave me some information that I, and only I, in Cormyr have been privy to. First, though he did not say it, I got the distinct impression my Uncle may not be dead. But, I was not to reveal it to anyone else for complicated but understandable reasons. Second, I was told this with regards to the crystal. I was to smash it, which would activate like a signal to someone or some people if the following occurred: (1) Should something happen to Andreas. (2) Something happen to myself. (3) Or if there is any threat to the Royal family especially," Sebastian paused a moment, "should there be a lack of an heir or a dispute ever as to who is the heir."

Briar blinked at him and said slowly. "I take it that his relationship with Katrina had more far reaching consequences than even Andreas realizes, besides his loss." She looked at Sebastian. "He does not know of this... no of course he doesn't even realize the possibility or nothing would stop him from claiming the child. Sweet gods..." she sighed. "I see the nature of your dilemma, at least in part. And I know how the child might feel, not knowing his or her father."

"I know you offer me insight to a side I never thought of. I have tried to look at it from Andreas' point of view, but never have I asked myself, who am I to deny the child a chance to know his father." His words confirmed her theory. Looking at her, he smiled as she noticed his use of gender in the sentence.

"Yes, it is a son and no, Andreas has no clue. I think," Sebastian shuddered. "I think that's part of why it was so easy to have him beat me when we fought. I felt it was as if I deserved it for withholding the information from him. I...I have spent many a night not sleeping, wondering what I do and why I can find justification for what I do. Or perhaps why I find it so easy to justify."

Briar smiled slightly. "You did not deserve it." She said firmly and with a touch of anger in her voice. "And it is better that he is kept in ignorance. It does him no harm, since he is unlikely to ever learn this particular secret." She shook her head. "His son will have his mother and grandfather I would assume, and that will most likely be enough. I did not go looking for my father or even have a great deal of interest in him, until my home was denied me." She shook her head. "Who would have thought?" Her smile twisted ironically. "The proud upright Crown Prince the one to sire a bastard, when you are the one with the rogue and rake's reputation."

Sebastian leaned his head back and laughed, a bit sad but for the most part enjoying the irony. "Oh yes, I have thought many a night to reach up and scream to the heavens on the castle wall the fact so others can appreciate the irony." His thoughts turned somber again, "Mother would be so disappointed in him and I would spare both of them that. I think you are right...that for NOW...it is good he does not know. If he did, he would not think of country or the child, but latch on to the son as something to have and love. If and when there is a time, he is married and has other children, I think I might tell him then and let him decide what to do. But, if that never comes to pass, I'm told that the child will not set foot onto this nation unless Andreas asks one day."

Sebastian shook his head, "It is a dangerous game I play. In a way it is the ultimate trump card should anything befall the royal family. Were he being raised by anyone but his mother, I would worry the child might one day be a threat. But, Kat is too strong willed and of good heart and mind to raise a vengeance seeking child."

Briar nodded her agreement. "It is very difficult to know what to do always, what is the right thing, when you are alone in your knowledge." She said quietly. "Your mother I think, fears such a division of loyalties, from what little I have heard." She tilted her head. "I agree with you about Andreas though, he is too young to be told right now."

Sebastian sighed. "And I hope he does not hate me for making that decision for him, our family, and our nation." He rolled his eyes. "You think I the player?" A slight smile tilted his lips. "Within days of being in New Beregost, I hear a merry row went on with all my uncles court, as to who would win the prince." Sebastian's face stilled with sorrow. "Poor Kat," his voice was a near whisper, "she survived the siege of Candlekeep only to lose her home and her lover."

Briar said thoughtfully. "Love, you did not make the decision. Katrina and her family made it for you by making sure she could not be reached, and that no one knew of the child." She looked down. "Hopefully when Andreas isn't as inclined to viewing the world in black and white he will understand that. But he may never have to know, don't borrow trouble my prince."

She smiled slightly over his description of amorous competition. "It is never easy, to see someone you have loved die." She said quietly. Looking at him she asked. "I am correct in my assumption that you haven't fathered children?" Her tone was dry.

Sebastian looked at her, "Katrina and I got along well enough…but I was never the focus of her attention the way Andy was," He laughed, "and the friends I made in Freeport are excellent companions in work and play," He pulled himself from his reflections, "But no, no children by any of them, or from anyone else. Now as for having a family with you," He playfully wiggled his hands in her lap.

He startled a giggle out of her and she kissed his forehead. "Perhaps Katrina was blind?" Briar gazed at him appreciatively. "But I probably owe your brother an apology." She sighed.

Sebastian looked at her, "What was said?"

Briar blushed pink with embarrassment over her angry words. "I...told him he was worse than Serek, and I slapped him. And raged at him for having hurt you so terribly when you love him and only want to protect him." She bowed her head shamefully. Being honest about her words she repeated what she could remember of her rant at Andreas.

Sebastian gently pushed her chin up with his fingers. "I heard Lady Faith had words with him. If nothing else you may help him see things in a different perspective. Don't be sorry my love unless you think you overreacted. I'm not sure I wouldn't have done the same if our situations reversed."

Briar sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm not sorry I said it, because it needed to be said, but even if it was true, I shouldn't have compared him to Serek. Just because something is true, doesn't mean it needs to be said." She poked him in the chest. "You wouldn't have lost your temper with him. You didn't the other day."

Sebastian smiled wryly. "I nearly did," He shook his head. "But that's in the past and we are soon to be wed. I think before then that things will be resolved with Andreas and myself. Not the same, but resolved, I still love my brother and think I still wish him to be my best man."

Briar nodded. "So long as he can make his peace with you." She said quietly. "That was why I was so angry. Because he hurt you. If he had hurt me...I'd be over it already. I still consider him a friend, but I'd like to throw him on his tail and beat some sense into him." She nuzzled Sebastian's neck and smiled. "What else have you been thinking of for the wedding?" She murmured warmly.

Sebastian's smiled widened to a grin and he pulled her down for a kiss and began to tell her of his thoughts, the preparations and some very naughty things he'd like to do on their wedding night.

TBC